By Suzanne Hermary, Executive Director, Red Deer Arts Council

community culture development fund

Letter: Thanks to Mayor Jefferies and City of Red Deer council members

Dec 23, 2025 | 6:00 AM

On behalf of Red Deer Arts Council, we extend our sincere thanks to Mayor Cindy Jefferies and our City Council for their decision during budget deliberations to increase the Community Culture Development Fund (CCDF) – Development Category by $150,000 for the next three years. This investment sends a clear and meaningful message: arts and culture matter to Red Deer.

We also wish to acknowledge the time, care, and responsiveness shown by City Administration throughout this process. Council’s decision, paired with Administration’s work to distribute the new funding, has resulted in real and tangible progress for multiple organizations across our community.

Through this additional allocation, $75,000 of the new funding has been directed to our organization, securing a total of $125,000 annually across programs for the next three years.

These disbursements include the following programs:

• Professional Arts Presentation & Promoting Red Deer’s Cultural Life

"tough few years" to come, says minister

Budget views shared in meeting with finance minister and Chamber members

7h ago

Zone 4

St. Patrick's Community School teacher named Division finalist for ASBA Edwin Parr Award

9h ago

Lacombe County

Fire Permit season underway

10h ago

• Arts for All: Inclusive & Accessible Community Arts Outreach

• Creative Futures: Developing Artists, Audiences, and Volunteers

• Scott Block Theatre and Event Venue: A Cultural Hub for Red Deer

• Creative Hub Arts-based Program for People with Disabilities remains fully funded at $30,000 annually as originally approved.

This stability allows us to plan responsibly, support artists and audiences, and continue developing infrastructure that strengthens Red Deer’s cultural ecosystem. While we remain mindful of the need for continued accountability and long-term policy clarity, this funding provides meaningful security and momentum after an uncertain intake process.

We are equally encouraged by the impact this increase has had beyond our organization. Some of these include: Tree House Youth Theatre has received additional funding to support its theatre training programs, Prime Stock Theatre received $18,000 for Bard on Bower, and Red Deer Festival for the Performing Arts received an additional $12,000 to add to their original allocation of $8,000 —investments that directly support youth engagement, professional practice, and public access to the arts.

At the same time, we recognize that important gaps remain. Organizations such as Central Alberta Theatre, Red Deer Pottery Club, and the Norwegian Laft Hus received no new funding, despite their valuable contributions and popularity as arts programmers. These outcomes underscore that our collective advocacy work is not finished. We hope that the community will rally support in other ways so they can in turn continue to support community.

What this moment makes clear is that the community is behind the arts. When we remain vocal, collaborative, and engaged, change is possible. We will continue to encourage Council and Administration to review policies surrounding grant operating funding and adjudication processes so that Red Deer’s cultural sector can thrive sustainably.

We are deeply grateful for Council’s leadership, for the revisions managed in a timely fashion by Administration, and for the solidarity shown by our peers and the community throughout this month-long journey. Thank you for listening, for acting, and for helping move Red Deer closer to reclaiming its place as a cultural capital in Canada.

With deepest gratitude for our last-minute Christmas miracle, and with warm wishes for a peaceful, joy-filled, and warm holiday season.

Yours in Creativity,

Suzanne Hermary

Executive Director
Red Deer Arts Council
On Behalf of the Board of Directors

—

READ MORE

• Red Deer arts & culture groups dissatisfied with grant funding
• Red Deer city council approves 3.97 per cent tax rate increase
• Red Deer Arts Council assumes operation of Scott Block Theatre and Event Venue